NFL draft: Just call it the abroad jump

Florida State defensive lineman Bjoern Werner, who grew up playing soccer in Berlin, had 13 sacks as a junior at FSU last season. DAVE MARTIN, AP

VALUED IMPORTS

Three of the top pass-rush prospects in the 2013 NFL draft are from overseas:

BJOERN WERNER

School: Florida State

Height/weight: 6-3, 266

Hometown: Berlin, Germany

Projected round: 1

EZEKIAL "ZIGGY" ANSAH

School: BYU

Height/weight: 6-5, 271

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Projected round: 1

MARGUS HUNT

School: SMU

Height/weight: 6-8, 277

Hometown: Karksi-Nuia, Estonia

Projected round: 1-2

Three of the best pass-rush prospects in the upcoming NFL draft aren't from around here. Or anywhere near here.

Germany's Bjoern Werner, Ghana's Ezekial Ansah and Estonia's Margus Hunt took different paths to the draft. But they all might wind up in the same place.

Last year, NFL teams selected five foreign-born players, believed to be a record. This year, three – or even four – could be picked in the first round.

That's the contention of NFL draft sage Gil Brandt, who helps the league run the scouting combine, among other duties. Brandt has all three defensive ends in Round 1 of his latest NFL.com mock draft, as well as Florida State offensive tackle Menelik Watson, who's from England. Werner and Ansah are all but certain to be first-rounders; most project Hunt as a second-round pick. But that's beside the point, which is this: It's highly unusual for this many foreign-born players to be this highly regarded, and it could be a sign of things to come.

Brandt believes football is "following basketball's lead" in becoming an international sport. Football doesn't have anything like the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, whose star power ignited interest in basketball worldwide. But the NFL has been steadfast in promoting its sport and brand overseas, from funding the now-defunct NFL Europe to staging annual regular-season games in London.

"It certainly is a good sign for the growth of the game," former NFL executive Bill Polian, now working for ESPN, said of the confluence of international pass rushers in the 2013 draft.

"More importantly, it's about their athletic ability and their ability to have both power and speed at the same time. That's what it takes to play, and all three have it."

Do they ever.

BJOERN TO BALL

Werner isn't as freakishly athletic as Ansah or Hunt, but the Florida State product is a football aficionado by comparison.

Werner grew up in Berlin playing soccer but became intrigued by the other form of football when a fellow sixth-grader was tossing one around one day. Werner joined a local flag-football team at age 12 and fell in love with the sport, to the point of watching the combine online with his friends. When he turned 15, he started playing tackle football.

"It was just the most amazing feeling just hitting people," Werner said at last month's combine in Indianapolis.

Werner showed considerable potential. His coach suggested that he pursue the sport in America, so he transferred to Salisbury (Conn.) High through an exchange program. Werner knew hardly any English when he arrived but picked it up within a few months, by necessity.

"I made a lot of sacrifices," Werner said. "I left my country, my family, my girlfriend – she's my wife today – just to be here and pursue this dream."

It was a wise decision. Werner improved steadily at FSU, peaking as a junior this past season, when he had 13 sacks for one of the best defenses in the nation.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.